Painted facade at Portofino drove me insane...

NoScreenJM2

Earning My Ears

Joined

Nov 21, 2014

• Aug 31, 2015

• #1

OK OK I know I'm nitpicking here. This was my first trip to the dark side after spending 5 nights at the Grand Floridian I went over to Universal for 2 nights and checked into Portofino. The rooms are great, the service was wonderful, the bell staff that brought my luggage to the room were giving true luxury service and having a Starbucks downstairs was great for me..... BUT I just couldn't get past the painted details on the buildings. With how first class much of the property is, this seemed like such a huge corner to cut. Am I crazy for this bothering me? On a different note I visited the Hard Rock and was surprised at how nice it seemed, so perhaps I found my hotel for future stays. Anyone else bothered by this?

 

damo

Proud Redhead

Joined

Jan 1, 2001

• Aug 31, 2015

• #2

Actually, if you look at photos of the actual Portofino Bay, there are a lot of painted details on the buildings. It is called trompe l'oeil. They weren't cheaping out, they were being authentic with the hotel.

Palm trees are also authentic to Portofino, Italy. Some people seem to have issues with that too.

 

Last edited: Aug 31, 2015

bumbershoot

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 5, 2007

• Aug 31, 2015

• #3

damo said:

Palm trees are also authentic to Portofino, Italy.

Click to expand...

I know about the trompe l'oeil, but I did NOT know that about palm trees!

 

pcstang

Always Universal Orlando bound!

Joined

Nov 29, 2011

• Aug 31, 2015

• #4

damo said:

Actually, if you look at photos of the actual Portofino Bay, there are a lot of painted details on the buildings. It is called trompe l'oeil. They weren't cheaping out, they were being authentic with the hotel.

Palm trees are also authentic to Portofino, Italy. Some people seem to have issues with that too.

Click to expand...

Yep, very authentic.

 

BagOLaughs

Well I ain't evil, I'm just good looking

Joined

May 29, 2015

• Sep 1, 2015

• #5

This is pretty common place all across Europe too. Here are some photos I took in Switzerland. I wouldn't say it was cheap or cost saving just true to the original. From the sounds of it you still had a great stay, yey!

 

schumigirl

It's a bit of a roodie doodie word for lady parts

Joined

May 15, 2007

• Sep 1, 2015

• #6

They didn`t cut corners....it does actually look quite authentic to the real Portofino........

I`m just glad they didn`t recreate the awful raw sewage smell we had on both visits to the real area in Italy......yuk!!!!

 

R

RMulieri

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jul 5, 2001

• Sep 1, 2015

• #7

It wasn't corner-cutting.It was modeled after the real Portofino Italy.The painted facades is very big in Europe and is called trompe l'oeil.
We love Portofino and find the facades beautiful

 

Bluer101

Waiting till vacation comes, oh that's next week!

Joined

Jun 29, 2008

• Sep 1, 2015

• #8

Trust me it's as real as it gets. When the deal was done with MCA/Universal and Loews Hotels in 1996 they even had people from over there come here to help recreate the style.

Construction.

 

schumigirl

It's a bit of a roodie doodie word for lady parts

Joined

May 15, 2007

• Sep 1, 2015

• #9

Nice pics Blue.......hadn't seen those of the PB being built.........

 

Bluer101

Waiting till vacation comes, oh that's next week!

Joined

Jun 29, 2008

• Sep 1, 2015

• #10

schumigirl said:

Nice pics Blue.......hadn't seen those of the PB being built.........

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I have all types of photos from around the net, collecting them over the years. Especially seeing we are there so much from the beginning it's nice to look back and reflect.